Check out the 10 most-read Northern Star stories of 2014-15

By Kelly Bauer
May 5, 2015

Catch up on the news and columns you missed this academic year by checking out the 10 most-read Northern Star stories.

If you’re interested in all the news — and there was quite a bit in between the Huskies losing at Homecoming and the university implementing program prioritization — scroll to the bottom for a timeline of the year’s biggest stories.

Hover over this graph’s bars for the headline of the story or scroll down for links to each story.

Read the stories here:

10. NIU pushes to enforce off-campus party rules

Students and Greek Life leaders have mixed feelings about the recent enforcement of rules for organization-sponsored off-campus parties.

Rules limit how many people can be at a party, how much attendees can drink and how long the party can last, among other things. Student Involvement and Leadership Development relies on student organization leaders to be proactive in following rules for social events — some long-established and others created last fall, said Dain Gotto, senior associate director for Student Involvement and Leadership Development.

This spring, the department started doing random compliance checks, Gotto said.

9. Football’s Chad Beebe breaks arm during MAC Championship game

Chad Beebe, sophomore wide receiver/punt returner, was injured during the MAC Championship game at Ford Field in Detroit.

Beebe was reported to have a broken arm sustained on a punt return. He was removed from the field with an air cast on his left arm during the first quarter.

8. Consultant Ron Walters paid $460K in 18 months, even without scheduled work

Ron Walters, who provided consulting services to NIU President Doug Baker until Dec. 31, was paid more than $460,000 during 18 and a half months, even when records indicate he didn’t have scheduled work.

Walters’ salary varied throughout his time at NIU, but he was paid every two weeks, even when his work calendar showed he did not have work for NIU scheduled for days or weeks at a time. NIU also reimbursed Walters for travel against state regulations.

During his time at NIU, Walters, who did not respond to repeated requests for comment, worked with Baker on creating the Master Plan Thesis and Bold Futures Workshops.